Combined cigar lighter and advertising device



April! 1 1924. 1,489,163

J. L. SMITH COMBINED CIGAR LIGHTER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed NOV. 19. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 COMEMGAIN I 11 Van tar April 1, 1924'. 1,489,163

J. L. SMITH COMBINED CIGAR LIGHTER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE Fileg Nov. 19. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ttozrm @34 Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

' UNTTED STATES 1,489,163 rarsu'r ounce.

JOSEPH L. SMITH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, J LSSIGNOR TO"MILWAUKEE ADVERTIS- ING AND NOVELTY COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

COMBINED GIG-AR LIGHTER AND ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed November 19, 1920. Serial No. 425,086.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York. have invented a new and useful Combined Cigar Lighter and Advertising Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates generally to that type of device in which a cigar lighter is electrically ignited, and an advertisement is simultaneously brought into view with the operation of the cigar lighter.

One of the objects of my invention has been to provide an electric bulb which illuminates the displayed advertisement simultaneously with the operation of the device. Furthermore, it has been an object to pro .vide a positive stop for the drum carrying the advertisements, so that each advertisement will be brought successively into registering position with the display window.

Moreover, my device is simple to operate; cheap to manufacture; and of such a design that it is positive in action and will not easily get out of order.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is an exterior, front view of my complete device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side view, with a portion of the casing broken away.

Fig. 3 is a front View of the device with the forward half of the casing removed, showing the working parts of the device.

Fig. 4 is a side view with the casing in section, showing the working parts.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, showing the parts in positions difierent from those shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the spark coil, primary winding switch.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view showing the electrical connections and circuits.

My device comprises a base 10 in which are preferably disposed the cells 11 of the battery and the spark coil 12. The battery is preferably of the dry cell type and the spark coil is preferably of the vibrator type, by which a jump spark may be produced. As each of the devices is well known to those skilled in the art, I will not describe them further. A casing 13 is supported by the base and encloses all the working parts of my device. This casing is preferablyhinged at its lower front edge, so that it may be swung forwardly to .disclose the working parts of the device. To permit this operation, the rear portion 14 of the casinghis.

made in a separate piece and secured in place by any suitable means.

15 is a rotatable drum, on which are mounted the advertisement cards 16. These cards may, ofcourse, bear any suitable inscription, and they are preferably detachably secured in any desired manner. The drum is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 17, which isrotatably carried by standards 18 and 19. The shaft 17 is preferably provided with a head 20 at the outside face of the standard 18, and a friction spring 21 is preferably arranged between the inside face of the standard 18 and the adjacent face of the drum 15, so that the drum will be frictionally held in position.

22 is a yoke which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 17 and which is disposed between the standard 19 and the adjacent face of the drum 15. Rigidly secured to the shaft 17 is a toothed wheel 23, which is preferably disposed between the side flanges of the yoke. This toothed wheel is preferably provided with a plurality of teeth equal in number to the number. of advertisements carried by the drum 15. 24L is the fuel tank of the lighter which is carried by the upper ends of the yoke 22. 25 is the operating leverof the device, which is pivotally attached to the side 'of the casing nearest the toothed wheel 23. The forward end of this lever extends through a slot 26 in the front of the casing, where it is provided with a thumb piece 27. The opposite end of the lever extends rearwardly and engages with a lug 28, carried by the fuel tank 24, whereby the mechanism of the device is operated.

An operating pawl 29 is carried by the yoke 22 and is engageable with the teeth of the toothed wheel 23. A detent 30 is arranged behind the pawl, so as to limit its motion in one direction. 31 is a U-shaped yoke, having its upper ends'pivotally mounted in the yoke 22 and its lower cross-bar 32 engageable with the teeth of the wheel 23 when the device has been operated through its maximum movement, thus providing a stop for the movement, and holding the exhibited advertisement in registering posi tion with the display window. 33 is a link which is preferably U-shaped and has its upper ends pivotally attached to the crossbar 32 of the stop yoke. This link has its lower ends pivotally attached to the base 10 of the device.

Inasmuch as the pivotal connection of the link 33 with the base is some distance to the side of the center of oscillation of the yoke 22 it will be seen that when the yoke is moved in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 4) the cross-bar 32 of the stop yoke will be drawn toward the toothed wheel 23, and will engage with one of the teeth of this wheel when the operatin pawl 29 has moved the wheel to its predetermined position, thus positively stopping the rotation of the drum 15 at the predetermined point. When the yoke 22 is moved'back toits initial position by the helical spring 34, (provided for this purpose and attached to the fuel tank 24c and the base 10), the friction spring 21 will, keep the drum tired in this position and the operating pawl 29 will move over the next tooth of the wheel and be in position to rotate the drum so as to expose the next advertisement when the device is again operated. A. stop is provided for the fuel tank, and preferably comprises a standard 35, secured to the base 10 and having a pad 36 at its upper end. This pad is preferably of resilient material, so that the shock of the impact of the fuel tank as it returns to its initial position will be partly absorbed. Each time the lever 25 is operated a new advertisement will be brought into view.

The fuel tank 24: is segmentalin shape having its outer periphery substantially aligning with that of the drum 15, the bottom of the tank lying along the chord of the are formed by its outer periphery. The tank is provided in its upper side with a burner tube 37, in which a wick 38 is dis posed. A suitably capped, filler opening 39 is'also provided for the tank tiirough which it may be filled or replenished with any suitable volatile .tluid. Arranged up through the burner tube and wick is the movable electrode 4-0 of the igniter of my device. This electrode preferably extends to the bottom of the tank where it is soldered or otherwise fastened and thereby electrically grounded.

4-8 is the fixed electrode, which is disposed in the path of travel of the movable electrode 40 and is carried by the casing 13 from which it is suitably insulated. The fixed electrode is arranged so that the movable electrode will be in spaced relation therewith when brought into an adjacent position by the operation of t is device, thus forming a gap across which the spark will be caused to jump. The spark coil is, of

course, provided with a primary Winding and a secondary winding (not shown). One side of the secondary winding is grounded to the body 13 or base 10 of the device andthe other side of this winding is connected to the fixed electrode 48 by means of high tension wire l9. Tnasmuch as the movable electrode LG is also grounded, the circuit for the secondary current completed through the metallic parts of the device. A Switch I is inserted in the circuit leading to the primary winding of the coil and is so timed in its operation. that a spark will be produced only when the movable electrode 4:0 is opposite the tired electrode d8, so that there will be no possibility of the spark jumping from the electrode to the burner tube The movable part of the switch l? comprises an arm 50, which is carried by the fuel tank 24-. it the outer end of this arm is provided a contact plate 51 to which a lead 52 is attached. The stationary part of this o comprises an arm 53, insulating material ml 'ch is secured preferably to the standard =9. A contact arm 5ais carried by the as .i 3 and is so arranged as to be 1n the path of travel or": the contact plate 51 of the movable member of the switch. A lead 55 is connected with the contact arm 54. The contact plate 51 and contact arm 54 are so proportioned that the circuit controlled by these contacts will be closed for only ashort period of time and at point in the oscillation of the fuel tank where the movable electrode l0 will be beneath the fixed electrode 48. The leads 52 and 55 are connected in the primary circuit of the spark coil so that the secondary of the coil is ener ized only at the time and for the period of engagement of the contact elements 51 and 54-. An extinguisher cap 56 is carried by an arm 59, and is so positioned that the upper end of the burner tube 37 and the wick 38 will contact therewith when the fuel tank moves back to its initial position. This cap is made of suitable fireproof material, and, not only serves to extinguish the tlaine, but also to cover the upper end of the burner tube, thereby preventing evaporation of the fuel. The casing 13 is, of course, provided with a suitable slot 5? for the accommodation of the movement of the burner tube Carried by the casing 13 and arranged near its lower pivoted edge, is a strip 58 of insulating material vhich is provided preferably with two terminal screws 60 and 61. Contact springs 63 and 6d are carried by the terninal screws 50 and 61, respectively, and extend rearwardly over the edge of the strip 58. A contact strip 65 is carried by the base 10 of the device and is provided with two terminal sci G7 and 68. The contact springs 63 and 64 make contact respectively with. the terminal screws '37 and 68, when the cover is in the position shown in the drawings. When, however, the cover is opened for the inspection or adjustment of the parts of the device, the electrical circuits connected with the terminal screws will be broken by the disengagement of the springs with the screws. A glass covered opening is arranged in the casing 13 through which the advertisements may be viewed, one at a time, as they are exposed and brought into registering position with this opening. A small electric light bulb 71 is arranged immediately below the opening 70 and furnishes illumination for the exhibited advertisement when the device is being operated. A switch 72, for controlling the supply of current to the electric bulb 71, is attached to the casing and insulated therefrom as shown in Fig. 2. The switch '72 is arranged below the outer end of the actuating lever 25 and a pad of insulating material 73 is secured to the lever where it contacts with the members of the switch 72, wherebv the electric circuit is Reference is now to be had to Fig. 7'

where I show the electrical parts and circuits of my device in diagram. The battery 11 is connected at one side to the terminal screw 68 by the lead 74. The other side of the battery is connected by lead 75 to the terminal screw 67. Leads 52 and 55 connect the switch l7 with the lead 75 (coming from the battery) and with one side of the primary winding of the spark coil. The other side of the winding of the coil is connected to the opposite side of the battery by the lead 62. One of the elements of the switch 7 2 is connected with the electric bulb 71 by means of a lead 7 8, and the other element of this switch is connected with the terminal screw 61 by means of a lead The other side of the electric bulb is connected with the terminal screw 60 by means of a lead 80.

It will thus be seen, that as the operating lever 25 is depressed, the fuel tank 24: will be moved forwardly and, when the electrodes 40 and 48 are substantially opposite,

the switch 50 will close a circuit through the primary winding of the coil and current will flow from the battery 11 over leads 75 and 55, switch a7, and lead 52, through the primary winding, returning to the battery through the lead 62. This will energize the secondary winding of the coil and cause a spark to be produced in the gap between the electrodes 40 and 48 in the well known manner. This spark will cause the volatile fluid, with which the wick 41 is saturated, to become ignited and produce the desired flame for cigar lighting purposes. lVhile the arm 25 is being operated as just above described, the drum 15 is being rotated and will bring an advertisement in registering position with the opening 70, at which time the electric bulb 71 will be lighted so as to illuminate the ad-- claims, andI do not therefore, wish to be limited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described, the form used being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a combined cigar lighter and advertising device, the combination with a casing and a shaft journaled therein, of a fuel tank pivotally mounted upon said shaft, a lever pivoted within the casing and adapted for rocking said tank, said lever having one end projecting through the casing for manual operation, a ratchet wheel on the shaft, a pawl connected with the tank and adapted to engage and operate the ratchet wheel in one direction, a wick carried by the tank and projecting through the casing, and means for igniting the wick when the tank is oscillated by the lever.

2. In a combined cigar lighter and advertising device, the combination with a cas ing and a shaft j'ournaled therein, of a fuel tank pivotally mounted upon said shaft, a lever pivoted within the casing and adapted for rocking said tank, said lever having one end projecting through the casing for manual operation, a ratchet wheel on the shaft, a pawl connected with the tank and adapted to engage and operate the ratchet wheel in one direction, a wick carried by the tank and projecting through the casing, means for igniting the wick when the tank is oscillated by the lever, and independent means for retracting the tank when the lever is released.

3. In a step by step operating mechanism for rotary advertising devices, the combination with the casing, of a manually depressible lever extending therethrough and fulcrumed within the casing, an electric igniter, an oscillatory member adapted to be actuated by the lever and controlling the igniter, igniting means including a wick movable with said oscillatory member, a rotary shaft provided with an actuating ratchet Wheel, a pawl on the oscillatory nieiiber adap l to engagesaid ratchet Wheel to actuate we same step by step, and means for limitin each step movement of the ratchet woeei 4. In a step by ste; operating n'iec-har' t'or rotary advertising device. the coml". 2 tion with the casing, of a menu-ally depressible lever :itendiz thercthrongh and fol-- crnmed Within the casino. on electric igniter, an oscillatory member ed: d to ated by the le er and contron H a rotary shaft provided with an ratchet wheel a pawl on the or? meinl'ier adap a said 1 Wheel to scti ate the same step by etc; 1 means for limztii 9 each step movement or the ratchet Wheel comprising a stop linr conrith ember necteo the OSCLlZtL'O adapted to be swung til ieree ment with the ratchet to; "h on tion.

5. In a step by step operating me hanism. for rotary advertising devices, the combinetion with a shaft provided with ratchet Wheel, of an oscillatory member provided with a pawi for actuating "the ratchet Wheel and shaft in one direction an indenendently operable lever for manually actuating the oscillatory member in one c irection spring for retracting said member in the other direotion and an igniter mechanism controlled by said oscillatory member, a portion of said igniter mechanism inclnding a fuel tank and Wick being movabie With said oscillatory member.

oscillot 6. in step by step one for rot Ty advertising dev tion nrch, a shaf provide whcei. of? an oscillator-v and shaft in one direction, operable to lmiting the rection. a cushioned stop i mem- .l e movementof t and an if it 1.

membrn port n beino' connected i said zneml er.

-, step operating; meehanisn for rotary n}; devices, t combination with a snortprorided with a ratchet Wheei. of an oscillatory member arranged to Wheel in one direction, atchet holder adapter to oscillatory member into n i 1 he ratcl et Wheel on coma i i pietion of @he lo ted-3t ac member, a manually ndent y movable id adapted to transmit motion in direction to the oscillatory member a spring for retracting" the i scillaiory member in the other dir ction, and an igniter mechanism controlled by said ry member, portion of said mech- -i being connected to and movable with said member.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto sir-nod my name.

JOSEPH L. SMITH.

mating movement of 

